Madam, - The response of the "democratically elected government of Palestine" to the latest barbarity in Tel Aviv illustrates once and for all that these people must be treated as utter pariahs. To characterise this horrendous act of blowing oneself skyward to one's eternal orgy, along with as many Jews as possible, as "legitimate" and "self-defence" reveals a moral vacuum and a twisted logic which ought to be withstood tooth and nail for the sake of civilisation. - Yours, etc,
DL O'SULLIVAN, College Road, Cork.
Madam, - Once again the front page of The Irish Times displays imagery of death and destruction in Israel. Instead of merely throwing up our hands in justified horror at this carnage, we should reflect on the issues that it raises.
Firstly, there have been few if any reports and no images whatever of the destruction and slaughter wreaked by the Israeli army in Gaza over the past few weeks, so the traditional double standards that perpetuate this conflict clearly remain in place.
Secondly, the fact that the bomber came from the West Bank testifies to the uselessness of Israel's illegal wall as a guarantee of Israel's security. Thirdly, the fact that there have been no such atrocities against Israelis for several months testifies to the efficacy of the truce that Hamas has unilaterally observed for more than a year.
Hamas has in fact declared an end to suicide bombings, and it is well-known that it was seeking to persuade Islamic Jihad to take the same step. If a massive Israeli retaliation now ensues - and what genuinely democratic state nowadays speaks of "retaliation"? - there will be an end to such peace efforts and possibly an end to the Hamas truce.
Instead of boycotting and isolating Hamas, Israel and the west should respect the democratic choice of the beleaguered Palestinian people and negotiate a peaceful end to Israel's occupation, in accordance with international law. - Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Dublin 2.